compact
1 of 4adjective
com·pact kəm-ˈpakt 
käm-ˈpakt,
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
1
: predominantly formed or filled : composed, made
Miss Austen's novels are compact of delicate trivialities …
Samuel Alexander
Samuel Alexander2
a
: having a dense structure or parts or units closely packed or joined
a compact woolen
compact bone
b
: not diffuse or verbose
a compact statement
c
: occupying a small volume by reason of efficient use of space
a compact camera
a compact formation of troops
d
: short-bodied, solid, and without excess flesh
He had a small, compact body that looked full of life. D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence3
: being a topological space and especially a metric space with the property that for any collection of open sets which contains it there is a subset of the collection with a finite number of elements which also contains it
compactly
kəm-ˈpak(t)-lē
adverb käm-ˈpak(t)-
ˈkäm-ˌpak(t)-
compactness
kəm-ˈpak(t)-nəs
noun käm-ˈpak(t)-
ˈkäm-ˌpak(t)-
compact
2 of 4verb
compacted; compacting; compacts
transitive verb
1
: to make up by connecting or combining : compose
2
a
: to knit or draw together : combine
b
: to press together : compress
intransitive verb
: to become compacted
compactible
kəm-ˈpak-tə-bəl
adjective käm-ˈpak-
ˈkäm-ˌpak-
compactor noun
or less commonly compacter
kəm-ˈpak-tər
käm-ˈpak-,
ˈkäm-ˌpak-
compact
3 of 4noun (1)
com·pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: something that is compact or compacted:
a
: a small cosmetic case (as for compressed powder)
b
: an automobile smaller than an intermediate but larger than a subcompact
compact
4 of 4noun (2)
com·pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: an agreement or covenant between two or more parties
Synonyms
Adjective
- firm
- hard
- rigid
- solid
- stiff
- unyielding
Verb
- center
- centralize
- concenter
- concentrate
- consolidate
- polarize
- unify
- unite
Noun (2)
- accord
- alliance
- convention
- covenant
- pact
- treaty
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The drill has a compact design. the apartment's compact floor plan The cabin was compact but perfectly adequate. He is compact and muscular. He has a compact body. Verb The snow had compacted into a hard icy layer. the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Verb
Middle English, firmly put together, from Latin compactus, from past participle of compingere to put together, from com- + pangere to fasten — more at pact
Noun (2)
Latin compactum, from neuter of compactus, past participle of compacisci to make an agreement, from com- + pacisci to contract — more at pact
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
1601, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1591, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing compact
Kids Definition
compact 1 of 4
adjective
com·pact kəm-ˈpakt
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
1
: closely united or packed
compact dirt
2
: arranged so as to save space
a compact house
compact
2 of 4verb
compacted; compacting
1
: to draw together : combine
2
: to press together tightly
The machine compacts the trash.
compact
3 of 4noun
com·pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt
1
: a small case for cosmetics
2
: a somewhat small automobile
compact
4 of 4noun
com·pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: agreement sense 3
Medical Definition
compact
adjective
com·pact kəm-ˈpakt käm-ˈ
käm-ˈ ˈkäm-ˌ
: having a dense structure without small cavities or cells
compact bone
compare cancellous compact 1 of 3
adjective
1
as in solid
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure a mattress with a compact foam core Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- solid
- dense
- compressed
- hard
- rigid
- thick
- stiff
- compressed
- heavy
- compacted
- sturdy
- firm
- unyielding
- condensed
- hardened
- thickset
- stiffened
- indurated
- inflexible
- substantial
- tempered
- close
- inelastic
- rocklike
- unbending
- ramrod
- impermeable
- adamantine
- impenetrable
- nonporous
- case-hardened
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soft
- thin
- flexible
- loose
- spongy
- flabby
- elastic
- scattered
- pliable
- malleable
- light
- supple
- pliant
- floppy
- squishy
- airy
- squashy
- flaccid
- porous
- limp
- slack
- bendable
- permeable
- lank
- droopy
- ultrasoft
2
as in dense
having little space between items or parts compact soil that should provide good support for the plant Synonyms & Similar Words
- dense
- packed
- crowded
- tight
- thick
- close
- jammed
- compacted
- serried
- jam-packed
- crammed
- solid
- compressed
- condensed
- overcrowded
- airtight
- squeezed
- congested
- crushed
- snug
- pressed
- massed
- firm
- impermeable
- hard
- impenetrable
- impervious
- wall-to-wall
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loose
- airy
- open
- spacious
- roomy
- commodious
- uncrowded
3
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning compact prose without a single wasted word Synonyms & Similar Words
- concise
- brief
- summary
- succinct
- short
- capsule
- terse
- pithy
- compendious
- crisp
- aphoristic
- epigrammatic
- laconic
- condensed
- blunt
- telegraphic
- elliptic
- curt
- monosyllabic
- elliptical
- thumbnail
- sententious
- apothegmatic
- shortened
- meaningful
- abbreviated
- abrupt
- substantial
- meaty
- brusque
- abridged
- curtailed
- brusk
- significant
- snippety
- snippy
- well-turned
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- diffuse
- redundant
- prolix
- wordy
- verbose
- enlarged
- windy
- circuitous
- circumlocutory
- rambling
- repetitious
- tautological
- expanded
- tautologous
- long-winded
- pleonastic
- supplemented
- exaggerated
- inflated
- embellished
- embroidered
compact
2 of 3noun
1
as in treaty
a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples a five-nation compact to control drug traffic Synonyms & Similar Words
- treaty
- pact
- convention
- alliance
- covenant
- settlement
- accord
- bargain
- concord
- contract
- deal
- understanding
- entente cordiale
- charter
- entente
- bond
- projet
2
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken the two made a compact never to artificially prolong the other's life in the event of incapacitating illness or injury Synonyms & Similar Words
- agreement
- pact
- convention
- settlement
- bargain
- understanding
- promise
- contract
- deal
- covenant
- treaty
- binder
- disposition
- association
- accord
- partnership
- pledge
- charter
- alliance
- entente cordiale
- entente
- league
- acceptance
- assent
- approval
- consent
- okay
- concurrence
- OK
compact
3 of 3verb
1
as in to consolidate
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site Synonyms & Similar Words
- consolidate
- integrate
- concentrate
- merge
- center
- unite
- combine
- centralize
- unify
- concenter
- incorporate
- blend
- coordinate
- reduce
- polarize
- assemble
- harmonize
- fuse
- coalesce
- orchestrate
- link
- join
- reunite
- collect
- conjoin
- colligate
- reunify
- gather
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- spread (out)
- separate
- decentralize
- deconcentrate
- segregate
2
as in to compress
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together compact the snow into a tight ball for throwing Synonyms & Similar Words
- compress
- condense
- squeeze
- pack
- capsule
- telescope
- consolidate
- constringe
- simplify
- narrow (down)
- contract
- cram
- collapse
- constrict
- capsulize
- downsize
- boil down
- jam
- streamline
- jam-pack
- shorten
- shrink
- abbreviate
- abridge
- curtail
- crowd
- decrease
- concentrate
- diminish
- lessen
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- open
- expand
- outspread
- disperse
- scatter
- decompress
- dilate
- swell
- dissipate
- outstretch
- inflate
- distend
- breeding potential
- breeding range
- breeding season
- breeding territory
- breeding/mating season
- breedings
- breeds
- breedy
- breef
- breeks
- breekums
- empire red
- Empire Wine
- empire yellow
- empires
- empiric
- empirical
- empirical formula
- empirical truth
- empirically
- empiricism
- empiricisms
- empiricist
- empiricists
- empirico-